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‘Mud, River, Stone’ opening at Stagecrafters Friday

The Stagecrafters theater, 8130 Germantown Ave., presents the political thriller “Mud, River, Stone,” by award-winning author Lynn Nottage, opening on Friday, April 8, for a three-weekend run. I

Lynn Nottage, who wrote “Mud, River, Stone,” received the signal honor of the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2007 and the Pulitzer Prize for her latest play, “Ruined,” in 2009.

ts action unfolds somewhere in Africa, as two vacationing African-American Manhattanites, Sarah and David Bradley, take a wrong turn off a paved road and end up stranded during a rainstorm in a seedy Colonial-era hotel in the middle of nowhere, together with an assorted lot of both black and white strandees.

Suddenly what started out as a romanticized journey to their roots takes on absurd dimensions, by turns scary and sardonically funny, “… a most unexpected and bizarre adventure … ” [N. Y. Daily News].

Award-winning author Lynn Nottage (born in 1964) has several notable plays among her published work, of which her best known, “Intimate Apparel,” was produced at The Stagecrafters in 2008. She received the signal honor of the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2007 and the Pulitzer Prize for her latest play, “Ruined,” in 2009.

“Mud, River, Stone” premiered in 1997 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City, to very favorable notices, for example: “… Nottage pulls off a deft bait-and-switch with her new play, [seducing] us into believing we’re settling into a sardonically funny vacation-from-hell travelogue, then bringing in elements that are … deeply thought-provoking.” (N. Y. Newsday).

Paul DiFerdinando (from left), Quisha Lawson and Christopher Gladstone Booth star in “Mud, River, Stone,” by award-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, opening on Friday, April 8, for a three-weekend run at The Stagecrafters. (Photo by Sara Stewart)

Performance dates are April 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 8 p.m., April 10, 17, 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are priced at $15. (Thursday eve performances “2 for $20.”) Students with valid ID $13 at the door. Groups of 15 or more are offered a reduced rate of $13 a ticket, paid in advance. The box office opens 45 minutes before each performance. For more information, call 215-247-8881; for reservations, call 215-247-9913 or visit www.thestagecrafters.org.

Special NOTE: A “Meet the Cast and Director” Q & A session will be held following the performance on Friday, Apr. 15. All attendees that evening are welcome to stay.